What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Center IT Technician Team Lead position at Zenlayer?
Zenlayer is a leading edge cloud services provider that enables organizations to instantly deploy IT resources worldwide. As a "Zenplayer," the Team Lead embodies our core values of excellence, ownership, and proactive problem-solving. We operate a global network that requires precision at the physical layer to support our software-defined services.
The Data Center IT Technician Team Lead is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the technician team across our New Jersey sites. You will serve as the primary point of escalation for complex technical issues, manage local vendor relationships, and ensure that all "Rack and Stack," cabling, and maintenance projects are completed on time and to Zenlayer’s global standards. You will bridge the gap between high-level engineering requirements and local physical execution.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The Data Center IT Technician Team Lead is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the technician team across our New Jersey sites. You will serve as the primary point of escalation for complex technical issues, manage local vendor relationships, and ensure that all "Rack and Stack," cabling, and maintenance projects are completed on time and to Zenlayer’s global standards. You will bridge the gap between high-level engineering requirements and local physical execution.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Team Supervision: Lead, mentor, and schedule a team of shift technicians. Conduct performance reviews and identify training needs to ensure the team is up-to-date on modern DC standards.
- Project Oversight: Manage large-scale infrastructure deployments, including new cage builds, high-density power installs, and massive cabling projects.
- Escalation Management: Act as the Tier 2/3 onsite support for complex hardware failures, advanced networking configurations (VLANs/Trunking), and fiber optic signal issues.
- Quality Assurance (QA): Perform regular audits of rack hygiene, cable labeling, and inventory accuracy to ensure the New Jersey sites remain "audit-ready" at all times.
- Vendor & Facility Management: Interface with data center landlords (e.g., Equinix, Digital Realty) and third-party vendors for equipment repairs or facility maintenance.
- SLA Compliance: Monitor internal ticketing systems to ensure all "Smart Hands" requests from global customers are resolved within the defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Inventory Control: Oversee the local supply chain, including spare parts management, tool procurement, and high-value asset tracking.
- 3 years of experience in Data Center Operations, with at least 1–2 years in a leadership or "Lead Tech" capacity.
- Expert-level knowledge of server hardware (Dell, Supermicro) and networking gear (Cisco, Juniper, Arista).
- Advanced understanding of fiber optics (Single-mode/Multi-mode) and testing equipment (OTDR/Light Meter).
- Proficiency in Linux/Unix environments and CLI-based troubleshooting.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
- Professional English and Mandarin Chinese fluency is required to facilitate communication with the global NOC and HQ.
- Proven ability to manage shift schedules, resolve internal team conflicts, and lead by example during emergency outages.
- Ability to optimize rack space and power density for future growth.
- A "zero-error" mindset regarding cabling and documentation.
- Must be available for "On-Call" rotations to handle critical infrastructure emergencies.
- Ability to travel between various Data Center sites within the New Jersey/New York metro area.